{"id":997,"date":"2014-08-26T12:30:48","date_gmt":"2014-08-26T11:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/?p=997"},"modified":"2014-08-26T14:13:44","modified_gmt":"2014-08-26T13:13:44","slug":"madrid-icons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/2014\/08\/26\/madrid-icons\/","title":{"rendered":"Madrid Icons"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>

The emblematic Tio Pepe sign has returned to Puerta del Sol.<\/p><\/div>\n

Which famous landmark best represents Madrid? For many it would be Cibeles Fountain<\/strong><\/a>, for others the Prado Museum<\/strong><\/a>, Puerta de Alcal\u00e1<\/strong><\/a>, the\u00a0Royal Palace<\/a><\/strong>, the\u00a0Bear and the Strawberry Tree<\/strong>\u00a0or Picasso’s Guernica<\/em><\/strong>. What a tough choice! Today, rather than opting for one of these famous attractions, I’ve decided to give an overview describing some of the other\u00a0iconic sights<\/strong>\u00a0located throughout the city, which you’ll only find here. This is a very unique\u00a0Top 10<\/strong>, and I hope you like it.\"\"<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The plaque that marks Kilometre Zero of Spain’s radial motorways is located in Puerta del Sol.<\/p><\/div>\n

1. KM. O<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although Madrid’s most central and bustling square has some distinguished tenants, such as the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, you need to keep your eyes on the ground as you walk through Puerta del Sol<\/strong><\/a>. A plaque marks the exact starting point of Spain’s six radial motorways<\/strong>, which began as postal stage routes created sometime around 1720. The original plaque, located in front of the Real Casa de Correos<\/strong><\/a> (Post Office building), was placed there in the year 1950, although in 2009 it was replaced with the one we see today, made of granite and brass.<\/p>\n

\"Metro<\/a>

Metro stations are easy to recognise by their famous red diamond-shaped logo.<\/p><\/div>\n

2. THE METRO LOGO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although born in Galicia,\u00a0Antonio Palacios<\/strong>\u00a0has made his mark on history as the great architect of Madrid. The\u00a0C\u00edrculo de Bellas Artes<\/strong><\/a>, the Communications Palace, which has been rechristened Cibeles Palace<\/strong><\/a>, the Caryatid Building<\/a><\/strong>\u2026 Many of the city’s most iconic landmarks bear his stamp, as does the Madrid Metro<\/strong>, whose first line was inaugurated in 1919 by King Alfonso XIII. Palacios’ mission was to imbue the entrances and concourses of this new mode of transport with a special decorative style. He designed the granite entryways, with their coiled iron railings<\/strong>, for the historic entrances to the metro. He also came up with its famous logo, which despite having been updated over the years retains its original elements: a red diamond<\/strong>, white background and blue rectangle. If you’d like to see how it looked in its early days, I recommend visiting And\u00e9n Cero <\/strong>(Platform Zero)<\/a>, the former Chamber\u00ed station, which is a bona fide underground museum.<\/p>\n

\"Tile<\/a>

Tile advertisement for the Farmacia Laboratorio de Especialidades Juanse (Juanse Specialty Pharmacy Laboratory) on Calle San Andr\u00e9s.<\/p><\/div>\n

3. TILES<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you visit And\u00e9n Cero (Platform Zero) you’re sure to be surprised by its tile advertisements<\/strong>. In the early 20th<\/sup> century they were used frequently, particularly in shops, where their role was similar to that of window displays. Although the establishments that displayed them in all their glory are no longer devoted to the same businesses, we can still find quite a few scattered around downtown Madrid. In the heart of the Malasa\u00f1a<\/strong> neighbourhood, on Calle San Andr\u00e9s, you have the tile adverts of the Farmacia Laboratorio de Especialidades Juanse <\/strong>(Juanse Specialty Pharmacy Laboratory), and on Calle San Vicente Ferrer you will find those of the Antigua Huever\u00eda<\/strong> (old egg store).<\/p>\n

\"We<\/a>

We haven’t counted them, but the Schweppes advert has 312 bars.<\/p><\/div>\n

4.\u00a0THE NEON SCHWEPPES SIGN<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/strong>The making of one of the most famous scenes in Spanish film in recent times was no easy task. \u00c1lex de la Iglesia<\/strong>\u00a0had visualised it in his head a thousand and one times before he was able to say the word most coveted by any director: Action! He had to reproduce, bar by bar and with total accuracy, the\u00a0Schweppes sign on the\u00a0Carri\u00f3n building<\/a><\/strong>, and then take it into a studio. But the result seemed real; today anyone looking at the sign remembers that climactic moment in The Day of the Beast<\/em> when Santiago Segura and \u00c1lex Angulo hung from it after a demonic chase. Who, when looking up and taking the obligatory photo of one of the most famous sights on Gran V\u00eda, doesn’t imagine they’ve caught a glimpse of them still hanging there? The installation permit for the Schweppes neon advertisement was issued on 5 August 1972, but it wasn’t put up until the September after a payment of 3,750 pesetas had been made to City Hall.\u00a0It boasts 312 bars, measures 11 metres high and weighs 100 kilos<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"T\u00edo<\/a>

T\u00edo Pepe has returned to Puerta del Sol. You can see him on the rooftop of number 11 in the square.<\/p><\/div>\n

5.\u00a0THE T\u00cdO PEPE SIGN<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

And speaking of signs… Another of Madrid’s most iconic images is T\u00edo Pepe, one of the more well-known brands produced by the winery Gonz\u00e1lez Byass<\/strong>, whose headquarters are located in Jerez de la Frontera. In 1935 Luis P\u00e9rez Solero<\/strong> designed the label reproduced in the advertisement hoarding and came up with the slogan. His design as we see it today has remained unchanged since then. He described it in the following manner: \u201cYou will see with what simplicity they gave shape to me in Jerez \/ they bottled up the sun of Andalusia, first \/ they dressed me in a jacket, with a guitar and a hat \/ and that was how T\u00edo Pepe was born, brimming with flair and charm!\u201d\u00a0<\/em>The sign was placed atop the former Hotel Par\u00eds in Puerta del Sol<\/strong> in the year 1958. It has been declared a part of Spain’s historic heritage and today shines even brighter after a meticulous restoration. Its location has shifted but is not too far from the original site. It is situated on the rooftop of the building at number 11<\/strong>\u00a0in the square, on the corner of Calle Preciados. Look up!<\/p>\n

\"this<\/a>

Is this Dao\u00edz or Velarde? Either way, he’s located at the Congress of Deputies (\u00a9Jos\u00e9 Barea, MD).<\/p><\/div>\n

6. LIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

My, what fauna Madrid has! It’s impossible to count all the animals that dot the city in the form of sculptures, fountains, fa\u00e7ades… What has always particularly struck me is the number of lions<\/strong>\u00a0running rampant in almost every corner of Madrid. They are at the Monument to Alfonso XII<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0El Retiro Park<\/a><\/strong>, at\u00a0Cibeles Fountain<\/strong><\/a>, the\u00a0Monument to Philip IV<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in Plaza de Oriente\u2026 and, of course, they stand guard at the entrance to the\u00a0Congress of Deputies<\/strong><\/a>, Spain\u2019s lower house of Parliament. The latter lions are the work of Ponciano Ponzano, and have their own names: Dao\u00edz and Velarde<\/strong>, like the heroes of the Dos de Mayo uprising. They were created using melted bronze from cannons captured by the Spanish in the Battle of Wad-Ras (Morocco) in 1860.<\/p>\n

\"To<\/a>

To get a look at the Fountain of the Fallen Angel you’ll need to visit El Retiro Park.<\/p><\/div>\n

7. THE FALLEN AGNEL<\/strong><\/p>\n

To see one of the extremely few monuments in the world dedicated to the devil himself you’ll need to venture into El Retiro Park<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>and look for the Fountain of the Fallen Angel<\/strong><\/a>. This work was cast in bronze by Ricardo Bellver<\/strong>\u00a0for the Paris World\u2019s Fair (1878) and was inspired by some of the verses of John Milton’s Paradise Lost<\/em>. The piece depicts the agonising moment when the angel Lucifer is struck by the divine lightning bolt that casts him out of Paradise. Since 1885 it has been the centrepiece of this roundabout, with an official height of 666 metres<\/strong> above sea level. Mere coincidence?<\/p>\n

\"You<\/a>

You must get a photo of the leaning towers in Plaza Castilla.<\/p><\/div>\n

8.\u00a0THE LEANING TOWERS<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/strong>Although their official name is Puerta Europa (Gate to Europe)<\/strong><\/a>, everyone in Madrid knows them as the Torres Kio, as this is the name of the company that commissioned their construction. At a height of 114 metres, they have presided over Plaza Castilla <\/strong>since 1995, and are tilted at an angle of 15 degrees. They were the first skyscrapers in the world to be built on such a curious angle. Their creators? American architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee<\/strong>, although the name \u00c1lex de la Iglesia is strongly associated with them as well, as they also play a starring role of sorts in the hit movie The Day of the Beast<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The cable car that cruises Madrid’s skies was inaugurated in 1969<\/p><\/div>\n

9. TELEF\u00c9RICO MADRID<\/strong><\/p>\n

This, another of Madrid’s most iconic sights, is of the ‘highest’ calibre, offering us a chance to travel 40 metres above ground level, from Paseo del Pintor Rosales<\/strong>\u00a0to Casa de Campo Park<\/strong> and vice versa. It was built by the Swiss company Von Roll and officially opened on 20 June 1969. It was actually scheduled to begin operation on 15 May, the day of San Isidro<\/em> (festivities celebrating Madrid’s patron saint), but this was delayed when residents lodged a complaint claiming that the cable car<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0intruded on the privacy of their homes. It boasts 80 passenger cabins<\/strong> which can each hold five people, and covers a total distance of 2,457 metres. The whole of Madrid lies at its feet: the\u00a0Royal Palace<\/strong><\/a>, La Almudena Cathedral<\/strong><\/a>, San Antonio de la Florida chapel<\/a><\/strong>, the list goes on. A voice-over explains everything you see along the route.<\/p>\n

\"Sergi<\/a>

Sergi Arola’s take on the calamari sandwich is a truly modern creation<\/p><\/div>\n

10. BOCADILLO DE CALAMARES<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

On a final note… nothing can beat having someone do all the cooking for you! There is a wide selection of traditional dishes to choose from, ranging from tripe to cocido<\/em> (chickpea stew), as well as sweet treats like violet petals and torrijas<\/em> (Spanish-style French toast), or even hot chocolate and churros<\/em> (cylindrical Spanish doughnuts)! But I think nobody can feel like a Madrid resident through and through until they’ve had a calamari sandwich, if possible from the area around Plaza Mayor<\/strong><\/a>. Calle Ciudad Rodrigo boasts an array of bars where you can try one: La R\u00faa<\/strong>,\u00a0Valle del Ti\u00e9tar<\/strong>,\u00a0Los Ferreros<\/strong>\u2026 It’s very hard to pinpoint the origin of this culinary tradition, given that Madrid is not a coastal city, although it’s clear that eating battered fish is a Sephardic custom. Many renowned chefs have put a modern spin on the traditional sandwich, such as Sergi Arola<\/strong>, who serves it up in a sophisticated fashion at his newly opened vermuter\u00eda<\/em> (vermouth bar)\u00a0SOT<\/strong><\/a>, located on the second floor of his eponymous restaurant.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Which famous landmark best represents Madrid? For many it would be Cibeles Fountain, for others the Prado Museum, Puerta de Alcal\u00e1, the\u00a0Royal Palace, the\u00a0Bear and the Strawberry Tree\u00a0or Picasso’s Guernica. What a tough choice! Today, rather than opting for one of these famous attractions, I’ve decided to give an overview describing some of the other\u00a0iconic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[36,73,170],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=997"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1008,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997\/revisions\/1008"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}